Memorial City opens gateway to new dining, shopping experiences

Published
7:56 am CST, Monday, January 13, 2014

Gateway Memorial City, the latest development in Memorial City, has opened, providing an innovative collection of restaurants and retailers. The two-level center sits just west of Memorial City Mall, immediately adjacent to the landmark, 33-story Memorial Hermann Tower and The Westin Memorial City, Houston’s finest Starwood resort. The prominent architecture of Gateway Memorial City and immediate access to Interstate 10 will make the area a visible destination for Houstonians and out-of-towners. The center covers approximately 90,000 square feet of developed space, including a landscaped, central patio area that offers access to ground floor merchants and opens up to the Memorial Hermann Tower.

Visitors to Gateway Memorial City will be able to sample exclusive luxury boutiques, entertainment venues and unique dining experiences. The development is expected to become a magnet for Houston foodies, boasting four new chef-driven restaurants: Vallone’s, Churrascos, KUU Restaurant & Ogden’s Pour Society.

Vallone’s, namesake of legendary Houston restaurateur Tony Vallone, opened to the public at the beginning of December. The “modern classic” steakhouse is helmed by Vallone, chef Grant Gordon and Scott Sulma, and features a technique-driven approach to steak, fish, chops and house-made pastas. The interior of the restaurant, designed by architect Shafik Rifaat, includes a two-story dining room with a 12-foot fireplace, warm woods, glowing copper and a multi-level, glass wine cellar.

Churrascos, located on the Gateway’s second level, marks the fourth Churrascos and eighth Cordúa restaurant overall in the Houston area. The restaurant, which also opened in December, is led by Latin American cuisine pioneer Michael Cordúa and his son, chef David Cordúa. Designed by San Francisco-based MBH Architects, it features an exhibition kitchen and 22-seat horseshoe bar, with a rustic elegance throughout. The latest Churrascos location also introduces a new menu, with an expanded selection of seafood starters and Latin American comfort foods alongside the concept’s long-time staples such as the signature Churrasco Steak.

KUU Restaurant is the first solo offering from chef Adison Lee, protégé of famed celebrity chef Nobu Matsuhisa and fixture in the Houston food scene. The contemporary Japanese concept opens later this month and promises a diverse menu with a full spectrum of items including sushi as well as new spins on traditional fare such as uni crusted king crab and shoyu braised pork cheek. The interior, designed by local architect Si Dang, will share in the menu’s artisanal sensibilities, featuring a digital fireplace within a 14-foot-tall copper housing and a giant fish graphic with pulsating red backlighting.

Rounding out the restaurant lineup will be Odgen’s Pour Society, a gastropub from acclaimed California chef and restaurateur Bradley Odgen. The upscale pub concept, slated to open in summer 2014, will feature his signature farm-to-table seasonal comfort food, extensive craft beer, wine and cocktail selection. The interior will offer an ambiance with a hint of old Texas that’s at once serene, urban and upscale, complementing a menu designed to change with the seasons and feature ingredients at the peak of their flavor and availability.

Gateway Memorial City will also be home to numerous luxury retailers and service providers, including Charles Schwab, Markle Luxury Jewelers, Hanna Dental Implant Center and Brush & Blush Blow Dry Bar. Additional merchants are slated to open their doors through 2014.